MORGANTOWN – Intermed Labs at Mon Health has announced that a technology solution conceived by a Mon Health System physician has been acquired by a publicly traded company to support sacral neuromodulation (SNM).
Intermed said the technology created at its Morgantown facility addresses SNM challenges with an elegant solution comprising a software application and a hardware tool that makes peripheral nerve evaluation lead placement easier, faster and more accurate.
The acquisition of this novel technology marks a significant milestone in the partnership between Mon Health and Intermed Labs, they said.
The National Institutes of Health explains that SNM was developed in 1982 and to date, there have been more than 300,000 patients treated with SNM implants worldwide. It is a safe, efficacious and minimally invasive advanced therapy indicated to treat urinary incontinence, urinary retention, urgency, frequency and fecal incontinence in the United States for patients resistant to behavioral and pharmacologic treatment. In Canada and Europe, it is also indicated for chronic constipation.
NIH says the mechanism of action of SNM is not completely understood. However, the therapy seems to modulate spinal cord reflexes and brain involvement via afferent signaling (conveying impulses toward the central nervous system) rather than direct motor stimulation of the detrusor (a muscle that forms a layer of the wall of the bladder) or urethral sphincter.
Intermed is a medical technology startup studio partnering with Mon Health. Launched in 2020, it offers a pathway of innovation for physicians, clinicians and engineers to connect individuals who have ideas for improving patient outcomes with the expertise and resources needed to turn those ideas into real-world solutions that can be scaled and commercialized.
The acquisition was completed for undisclosed terms. It is expected that the product will receive FDA clearance and be available on a commercial basis in mid-2024.
David Goldberg, president and CEO of Mon Health System and executive vice president of Vandalia Health, said, “The partnership between Intermed Labs and Mon Health exemplifies the power of collaboration in bringing life-changing innovations to life. We are thrilled to see technology created by one of our own physicians being leveraged to drive progress and make a positive impact on patient care.”
He continued, “Intermed Labs’ progress and success shows that West Virginia and a community healthcare system like Mon Health, with such talented colleagues, can innovate and create solutions for patients and commercialize. We are showing how we can move West Virginia forward.”
Intermed Labs has gained international recognition, including the ECRI Health Devices Achievement Award, which presents its annual award to the facility that has carried out the most exceptional initiative to improve patient safety, reduce costs, or otherwise facilitate better strategic management of health technology. It was also awarded the Top Innovator of 2022 for the Fingy3D device during The Tank: Plastic Surgery Innovation Challenge hosted by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the world’s largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons.
Dr. Tom McClellan, co-founder and CEO of Intermed Labs, said, “Our collaboration has been extremely beneficial in creating indirect return on investment and building a culture of innovation here in West Virginia and beyond. This acquisition cements our position as the regional innovator in biomedical development. The technology, devices and clinical solutions created through Intermed Labs at Mon Health have helped to improve patient outcomes, local economic benefit and educational opportunities.”
To learn more about Intermed Labs at Mon Health, visit IntermedLabs.com.
